Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — April 10, 2019
(DALLAS) — In mid-March, the Dallas County Community College District and local Dallas partners hosted a delegation of visitors from Germany led by Susan Dieper, director of programs and grants for the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS), which is based in Washington, D.C.
The visit, which was organized by AICGS, focused on German-American relations. Representatives from several agencies participated: Germany’s federal government, the Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce, the Apprenticeship/Training Association of Immigrant Employers and a nongovernmental organization that provides support for immigrant women.
The groups are working together on a new project called “Integration — Made in Germany,” which is designed to bring advocates and practitioners together who integrate immigrants in Germany, particularly through employment opportunities, training and apprenticeship programs.
The goal of the project is to create a better understanding between Germany and other countries. Project members also share best practices, including training programs, apprenticeships and other types of services that can promote and support healthier and more productive economies and communities.
The agenda for the meeting between members of the German delegation and DCCCD comprised several presentations by the delegation, who also provided an overview of their objectives, followed by a series of presentations by the DCCCD and other local partners.
“We were privileged to welcome the German Delegation to DCCCD and to Dallas,” said Anita Gordy-Watkins, DCCCD’s associate vice chancellor of global economic development.
Gordy-Watkins, who provided an overview of the Dallas Metroplex and DCCCD’s global economic development efforts and partners, added, “Visits like these help us learn about other nations and give us a chance to share what we are doing as a district. We also have a chance to explore what countries are doing to support economic and workforce development as well as ongoing projects that improve employment, training and education programs.”
DCCCD representatives Gloria Smith and Shanese Alexander began with an overview of the district’s WorkReadyU programs, services, training options and details about their client base. Cynthia Brink then talked about the district’s apprenticeships. Vanod Mathur provided an overview of the Multi-Ethnic Economic Development Center (MEED), and Kim Kamen discussed AJC’s Global Jewish Advocacy Group.
The German delegation also met with Diana Flores and Gabriela Carvallo from the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Flores also serves as chair of DCCCD’s board of trustees); Francisco de La Torre Galindo, the Mexican Consul General; plus Liz Cedillo and Vanna Slaughter from the city of Dallas’ office of welcoming communities and immigrant affairs.
The meetings concluded with a commitment for future discussion to share additional experiences, exchange ideas and brainstorm possibilities for future collaboration.
“DCCCD’s office of global economic development will continue discussions with the delegates as strategic projects, initiatives and areas for collaboration are further defined,” said Gordy-Watkins. “We will continue to discuss topics such as development for immigrant populations, support for German companies and furthering apprenticeship and training programs.”
For more information, contact Virginia Arteaga, managing director for global business development in DCCCD’s division of workforce and economic development, at 214-860-5907 or at
varteaga@dcccd.edu.
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